Tuition to go down 5 percent at community colleges

CONCORD – Tuition at New Hampshire's seven community colleges will go down by about $30 per three-credit course starting in the fall.

The college's board of trustees today announced a 5 percent tuition reduction, bringing the in-state per credit cost to $200 from its present level of $210. A three-credit course will cost $600, down from $630. For an in-state student taking a minimum full-time course load of 12 credits per semester, annual tuition costs will drop from $5,040 to $4,800.

Gov. Maggie Hassan said, "I thank the Legislature for working with me last year in a bipartisan effort to provide the investment that helped make this tuition reduction possible, and I am grateful that (the community college system) took this step to make higher education more affordable."

Hassan and the Legislature restored funding to the community college system that had been cut in the previous state budget.

The tuition reduction comes after a tuition freeze last year, according to Paul Holloway, chairman of the board of trustees.

"We have invested in programs like advanced manufacturing and health professions, which helps employers fill high-skilled jobs and strengthens our state's economy. And we focused on innovation and efficiencies that help us achieve our mission more cost effectively for students, families and taxpayers," Holloway said.

According to college officials, more than half the students who enroll in New Hampshire's community colleges intend to pursue transfer to a four-year school after earning an associate degree or some number of credits at the community colleges.